New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-11
FLAMES CAUSED BY NAKED WIRES.
A WESTERN UNION OFFICE DESTROYED.

THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK IN PrrTsBURG,A RUIN
-TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION STOPPED FOR
TINE
PrrrsBURG, JuSe lo.-Shortly after midnight last
night the crossing of wires from which the covering
had been worn in the Western Union Telegraph
Companys operating room in the First National Bank
Budng at Fitth-ave. and Wood-st caused slight
fire behind the switchboard. The blaze was put out
with little trouble and without loss. At $3.50 a. N.
the two operators who had been left in charge OF the
Office for the balance of the night, P. j. McKeever
and George +. Stuart noticed another blaze ON the
switchboard. Mr.. McKeeyer ran for a can of water
to throw on the fame When he returned few
minutes la er the whole switch h-boari was in hames
end the fire was working it's way around the room.
The operators out to give the alarm, but before
they reached the the whole front OF the build
ing was on fire. Before the engines arrived the
flames shooting from all the windows OF the
fourth floor and had worked thef way to the fifth
floor in which were stored 5000 battery cells. These
cells were covered with signal oil, about eight
barrels OF oil being used in the ROOM The oil caused
the fire to burn hercey and rapidly. and by the
tme the engines ready to throw water 1t seemed
that the destruction OF the building was Inevitable
Entering the building from all sides were hundreds
OF Telegraph wires. Many of these we're bound to-
gether in cables. These quickly burned off, and
the signal wires soon shared the Same tate, cutting
Pittsburg completely of from the rest OF the world SO
lar as the Western Union service was concerned.
Halt an hour after the fire discovered the fourth
and fifth floors OF the large building were completely
qntted and the thrG floor, which used as the
opera Ing room Of the Telephone Exchange, was
badly damaged The telephone wires had shared the
same tate as those OF the Western Union company.
Nv $50 a. n. what had been two hours eefore one
OF the finest buildings in the city was practically
ruined, so TAR as appearances went. The lire was
coniiped to the First National Bank Building. The
onl, other sufferer the Allegheny county Llght
Company. As the telegraph circuits were
broken the business of the company so far as could
Inion "A branch OF the Western Union service. The
office at Wood and Diamond ats. was at once filed
with messenger buys and operators, anu old lnstru
ments and tab,ss were pressed into service. Inc
regular the branch offices were also increased
and by communication was once more estaD
lished East and West
The telephone wires will not be in a condition TO do
business tor least ten days, and it wiz bs several
weeks perhap. months before they will 10 IN "a good
shape as before the fire. For the present the Mutual
Union Office in the Germauia Bank Building Viii be
used as the main Office OF the Western Union. The
effect of the fire was el in all branches OF business
Pool rooms and bucket shops we're compelled to close,
and comparatively little business was transacted TO-
day at the various Exchanges. .
IL Is stated that the total loss will not exceed SooOOo
or this amount the Western Union loses S2o,oOO. the
telephone company $4,000 and L. L. Bedon Je"eler,
80 900 The damage TO the building was $1,000 All
was fully covered by insurance. except the western
Union, and their loss is total force OF men were
almost before the embers extingnished The Dank
officials say that they will rebuild at once. General
superint endent Tinker OF tho Western Union. with
carload machinery, will arrive here In the morning
The company had in pretty tar working con
dton tonight The fire caused by rats gnawlng the
covering the wires back OF the switchboard These
wires were insulated with linen thread coated Win
paraflne which the rodents seemed to have an In